Cosmetic applicator



Dec. 13, 1938. w. c HAND 2,140,009

COSMETT C APPLLCATOR Filed Dec. 15. 1937 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in applicators and more particularly concerns an improved device suitable for use in the application of liquid cosmetic materials to the lips, skin, hair or other parts of the body.

Cosmetic coloring matter, such as rouge, lipstick, mascara, etc, is customarily furnished in cake, paste or other solid or semisolid form. The mode of application of these cosmetic colors is not wholly satisfactory. Lip coloring, for example, is usually applied by rubbing a wax-like stick on the lips. The consistency of the stick varies greatly with its temperature which results in the application of an excessive amount of the material when the stick is warm and makes application of an adequate amount difficult when it is cold. Further, the distal end of the stick becomes misshapen in use, particularly in warm weather, with the result that it is difflcult to ap- 80 ply the material accurately to a limited area such as the lips. The foregoing and other disadvantages of solid and semisolid coloring cosmetics may be overcome by applying a cosmetic coloring.

in liquid form, and it is the object of the present 25 invention to provide an improved dispenser or applicator for use with cosmetics of this type.

The applicator of the present invention comprises generally an absorbent material carrying the coloring cosmetic in liquid form and provided 30 with an exposed applicator head of convenient and permanent size and shape. The features of the invention include a mass of absorbent material including or provided with an applicator head and a housing or container structure, the

as parts being so organized that the device may be carried in any position and at varying temperatures without danger of leakage and in condition for instant use. Other objects of the invention include the provision of a cosmetic applicator 4o device which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and which carries an ample supply of a liquid cosmetic substance.

In describing the invention in detail, reference 45 will be made to the accompanying drawing in which;

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an applicator device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the 50 line 2--2 of Figure 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

5 Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of applicator device embodying certain forms of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. 5

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, this device comprises generally an elongated housing or container 6 having an open upper end through which an applicator head H protrudes. The 10 housing 6 may be formed of any liquid impervious material, such as metal or a plastic composition, and is preferably closed at its lower end as shown.

A removable cap or cover 8 is preferably provided and in the disclosed embodiment, the cap fric- 15 tionally engages a reduced portion 9 at the upper end of the housing 6.

In accordance with the invention, the liquid cosmetic is carried by absorbent material enclosed within the housing 6, and an air space is provided within the housing and is vented to the surrounding atmosphere so that upon a rise in the temperature of the device, the expansion of air in the housing cannot cause leakage of the cosmetic liquid. As shown in Figure 1, the absorbent material may comprise a mass H of a fibrous substance such as absorbent cotton which has the property of absorbing liquid in a considerable quantity. The absorbent material II is carried within and substantially fills the housing 6 to somewhat above its midpoint. The material It is preferably saturated with a liquid coloring material or other cosmetic, the amount of liquid carried thereby being insufficient to supersaturate the material ll whereby the liquid cannot run by gravity or drip from the surface of the absorbent material.

An applicator head is formed integral with or disposed in contacting relation to the absorbent material II. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the 4 head comprises an elongated strip l2 of an absorbent material capable of rapidly transmitting liquid and readily giving up this liquid to surfaces with which it is brought in contact. The material of the strip I! may be wool felt which transmits liquids quickly by capillary action, although wool felt is not capable of holding as much total liquid per unit volume as other absorbents, such as cotton. The strip l2 may be variously supported, and as shown, is doubled 5 upon itself and so disposed that the doubled end extends outwardly through the upper opening of the housing 6. One leg ll! of the strip I2 extends downwardly into contact with the absorbent material II forming the liquid cosmetic reservoir while the other leg II is preferably somewhat shorter, as shown.. This arrangement leaves an air space I5 between the lower end of the leg i4 and the upper end of the reservoir absorbent material II, the air space also extending about the lowerend of the long leg l3.

The applicator head H may be formed by the reversely bent strip l2 alone but I generally prefor to employ a core or mandrel i6 within the strip as n am i: a ve: t e" de t taperehapati-itdistal end, ,1.The' tore mama; be formed of any fairly rigid material and as shown, is a hollow metal rod with a pointed upper end. If desirable or necessary, the eggpo sedp 'g' the tion of the absorbent material I! applicator head H may be enclosed; ;i nliqui I, pervious envelope of silk, satin, leath r or like material. Such an envelope-has beeir shhwfi btt I! in thedraWihg. W in Various means may be employed to 'flxthe'a wearer li'ead in position in' the ning ofz the housing 6. In the e'mbodim n'tof figure mms means comprises le'eve'flflihavingqloutwaidly i'ir'tndiiigfiahgs anda;zo 'atitsiuppefi and lower ends respectively. The applicator-head H", comprising tlie 'absbrbent "strip 12 surrounding this" core j lt' ana covered: 'y the' 'nvloiie l1; may be passedth'rough th sleeve 8; name-mere forged withinmeuppr n'dof'the housing he edge of- 'thefian'ges :vs ana zu tightly 'eiw gaging the inner wnmr m "housiiig 'aiid flrmly Holding th head n' thisg'as'smbled pbsit'i'dri' bi the-p 3*13 'of'the strip IZ {[fjo that; he li quid is -drawn therefrom into-the absorbentnterta n! the-"he Hj-by' an fawih j dfir an e k In this embodiment, a single strip of absorbent material 25, bent upon itself at both ends, forms both the absorbent reservoir and the applicator head of the device. The absorbent material used may be wool felt, absorbent cotton or the like. The lower doubled portion 2'6 of the strip 25 fits snugly within the lower part of the housing 6' and upper doubled end 21, forming the applicator head, protrudes from the upper open end of the ha fi me d nr ab v ml saqv p liquid pf? out ei v lsmlifiz is 6" lSOlld 0r hollow construction is h 1d between .th doubled arts of the strip 25 at the head portion 21 thereacts to reinforce the head and to wedge the strip in firm gripping contact with the inner all; of, th housing 6 at its upper end. The'ends v Sarespaced apart as shown to prode a-n ai'r spfice fl within the housing 6', and a vent ppening 29 through the reduced portion 9' of'th housing wall communicates with this space. The outereendrofuthe ropenin'grfl his: connected, to the} sp'ace 'withi-n thei'rcalpzjf; byosuitable means, such aslthe grow/Jean; an'd theicap 8t is-iprovided with i one on i more breather; :holes or equivalent openings 23'. The lower end' of thezcore ifiiipreferablyhfests against theiupturnedrend of the-lower m n-anna s: the absorbent strip 25 thereby'z'pre venting the blocking of the veritrhole 29nbyz this lateral. 1

I I! Hi all fdrmsoi? the device,' .the absorbent material} i'r' clu'din'g thevaippliator headfliis' supplied with an; amdiintwf cosmetic liquid :"sufiicientcto satura e ""or' 'substa'ntially saturate'z. thei material 4. A theiamount of liqilid p 'nrunu-rromstheisurface mate t 4 in said. hou i g nd .lnp b y tr e h' ai-id within said outwardly protruding mass of absorbent material and extending through said housing opening and into the interior of said housing, said core engaging the absorbent material Within said housing and holding said material out of contact with a portion of the wall of said housing whereby a free air space is formed, and an air vent connecting said air space with the exterior of said housing.

4. A liquid applicator device comprising an elongated housing having an opening at one end thereof, a mass of liquid absorbent material substantially filling said housing and partly protruding through and filling said opening, a reinforcing core disposed within said outwardly protruding mass of absorbent material and extending through said housing opening and into the interior of said housing, said core engaging the absorbent material within said housing and holding said material out of contact with a portion of the wall of said housing whereby a free air space is formed, an air vent connecting said air space with the exterior of said housing and a cap removably secured to said housing over said air vent and enclosing said outwardly protruding absorbent material, said cap having a vent opening therethrough.

5. A liquid applicator comprising an elongated housing having an opening at one end thereof, a mass of absorbent material in said housing and extending outwardly through said opening to form an applicator head, a sleeve frictionally engaged between said absorbent material and said housing at said opening, said sleeve having a vent opening therethrough connecting the interior of said housing with the surrounding atmosphere, and means in said housing for holding the absorbent material therein away from the vent opening in said sleeve.

6. A liquid applicator comprising an elongated housing having an opening at one end thereof, a mass of absorbent material in said housing and extending outwardly through said opening to form an applicator head, sleeve means compressively engaged between said absorbent material and said housing'at said opening, said sleeve means having a vent opening therethrough connecting the interior of said housing with the surrounding atmosphere, a reinforcing core within said absorbent material and extending through said housing opening, and means on said core within said housing for holding said absorbent material out of contact with the vent opening in said sleeve means.

'7. A liquid applicator comprising an elongated housing having an opening at one end thereof, a mass of absorbent material in said housing and extending outwardly through said opening to form an applicator head, a reinforcing core extending within said absorbent material through said housing opening, laterally extending means on said core within said housing for holding said absorbent material out of contact with a portion of the housingwall whereby an airspace is formed in said housing, and means forming a vent opening connecting said air space to the outside of said housing.

8. A liquid applicator comprising a housing having an opening therein, a reservoir mass of absorbent material of high liquid absorptive capacity in said housing, a mass of liquid absorbent material of lower liquid absorptive capacity and higher liquid transmitting capacity than said reservoir material extending from said reservoir mass through said housing opening and protruding therefrom to form an applicator head and a -l iquid substantially saturating said masses of absorbent material.

9. A liquid applicator comprising a housing having an opening therein, a reservoir mass of absorbent material of high liquid absorptive capacity in said housing, a mass of liquid absorbent material of lower liquid absorptive capacity and higher liquid transmitting capacity than said reservoir material extending from said reservoir mass through said housing opening and protruding therefrom to form an applicator head, means forming an air space within said housing and an air vent connecting such air space with the surrounding atmosphere.

10. A liquid applicator comprising a housing having an opening therein, a mass of absorbent cotton within said housing, a mass of wool felt extending from said absorbent cotton mass through said housing opening and protruding therefrom to form an applicator head, and a liquid substantially saturating said masses of absorbent cottonand wool felt.

11. A liquid applicator comprising a housing having an opening therein, a mass of absorbent cotton within said housing, a mass of wool felt extending from said absorbent cotton mass through said housing opening and protruding therefrom to form an applicator head, means forming an air space within said housing and an air vent connecting said air space with the surrounding atmosphere.

12. A liquid applicator comprising a housing having an opening therein, a strip of liquid absorbent material in said housing having a reversely bent end protruding through said opening and filling the same and a reversely bent end within said housing, the ends of said strip being spaced apart within said housing to form an air space therebetween and an air vent in said housing connecting said air space with the surrounding atmosphere. I

13. A liquid applicator comprising a housing having an opening therein, a strip of liquid absorbent material in said housing having a. reversely bent end protruding through said opening and filling the same and a reversely bent end within said housing, the ends of said strip being spaced apart within said housing to form an air space therebetween, reinforcing means passing through said housing opening within said protruding reversely bent end of said strip and engaging the inner end of said strip within said housing, and an air vent in said housing connecting said air space with the surrouding atmosphere. v

14. A liquid applicator comprising a housing having an opening therein, a strip of liquid absorbent material in said housing having a reversely bent end protruding through said opening, reinforcing means passing through said housing opening within said protruding reversely bent end of said strip, said reinforcing means extending within said housing and engaging a portion of said absorbent material therein whereby said material is held out of contact with a portion of said housingwall, and an air vent connecting the interior of said housing with the surrounding atmosphere at the point where said absorbent material is held away from said housing wall.

WIIJ'RED C. HAND. 

